How to Find the Best Plumbing Service

One of the first things that would breakdown in a house, no matter where it is located is the plumbing. A pipe can get clogged or might start dripping. Something might have to be cleared and repaired, it does not really matter what it is but we all need a good plumber to help us out.

The problem is how we can find a good plumbing service that can do the needed job quickly and efficiently. The price of the service usually is not the problem as we're willing to pay a reasonably high price to get the repair done in the right manner. What we are after is a professional who knows what he is doing and who can take care of all the plumbing problems in our house.

To help you out here are some tips that you can use to find the best plumbing service:

1. In my opinion nothing can still beat personal recommendations when it comes to finding any kind of service that we need including plumbing service. Ask any of your friends or family if they know a good plumber that they have hired in the past, someone who is good and can be relied on. They won't be making recommendations if they have had any bad experiences with those plumbers in the past.

2. Now, if the people that you know do not have any plumbing recommendations you can try the next best thing and you can go online and do your search from there. There are many ways that you can use the internet in finding a good service provider that you need. You can visit a localized forum that specializes in things about the place that you live in and look for information about plumbers.

The good thing about the Internet is that you can read reviews and of the plumber's service if they did well or if they finished the job as needed. That way you won't be groping in the dark.

3. One of the things that you need to check whether you found the plumber online or someone recommended them to you is if they are properly licensed. You can ask them for a copy of their license which they should readily provide you with. Failure to do so on their part should make you suspicious.

4. Though we have mentioned earlier that costs is usually not an issue when finding a good plumbing service that does not mean that we would get along with whatever the plumbers will charge. The simple fact is that people will try to rip you off even if they did a good job. So you need to ask the service provider beforehand about the cost of their plumbing service and what the additional expenses are possible.

The traditional means of finding a good plumber through the yellow pages has long become obsolete. Today the Web is the best and fastest means of finding any kinds of service that you need not just for plumbing. You should learn how to use it properly.

The Basic Home Construction Process   

Waterproofing Your Basement Comes With These 7 Advantages!

Many people work hard and save money so that they can own a home. As we all know, a home is an important asset and it is important to take care of it. When you become a homeowner, you have to make sure that you maintain your house and protect it from the elements. It is essential to take the necessary measures that will keep your home in good condition for a long time.

One common problem that many homeowners experience is water seeping into the basement. The water that can be due to a leaking pipe or heavy rainfall, can cause structural damage and ruin any items stored in the basement. The water damage can ruin the foundation of the home and the consequences can be devastating. To help avoid this type of situation, homeowners can install a waterproofing system.

Waterproofing can be applied either indoors or outdoors. Many waterproofing service providers can assess the home and determine the best system to use. Your homes waterproofing needs, will depend on the design of the home, the location and the source of the water.

Advantages of waterproofing your home

1. Waterproofing protects the home's foundation. Structural damage that starts from the basement can affect the rest of the home making it unsafe. The walls get cracks that can go all the way to the ceiling. Homes that have been exposed to water damage over a long period often end up being uninhabitable.

2. It protects the inhabitants from health hazards that are caused by mold or mildew. Moisture encourages the growth of mold, which can be very harmful to health. There are people who have suffered from lifelong chronic conditions due to exposure to mold.

3. Protects the valuables stored in the home basement. Many people store valuable items like paintings, photographs and even furniture, in the basement. Water can cause irreversible damage to the items leading to thousands of dollars in losses.

4. Waterproofing helps to maintain the value of the home by preserving it in its original condition. Water damage can lower the value of a home and the depreciation can affect your position if you need to sell your home. You cannot fetch a good price for a home with water damage and realtors often advice their clients to fix the basement before putting the house on the market.

5. If you need to apply for a mortgage, the lenders will inspect the home before approving the loan. It is important to ensure that the house is in good condition and there is no water damage in the basement.

6. Waterproofing keeps the home dry and comfortable. Water damage can cause the home to smell and feel damp, which can be quite uncomfortable for the inhabitants. The damp atmosphere can also trigger allergies or asthma.

7. By fixing your basement, you can create a space that can help you to supplement your income. You can create a basement apartment that you can rent out for extra cash. You can also renovate and use the space as an extra bedroom or recreation space.

The Basic Home Construction Process   

7 Part Plan To Beating Childhood Obesity

Everyone from politicians to parents is talking about fighting the war against childhood flab. It is odd that in a relatively wealthy countries such as the US and Australia improving children's health, weight and fitness should be a problem but it appears to be a sticking point with many.

Childhood obesity in a developed country like Australia and the United States is essentially a lifestyle issue. Children are overweight because they eat inappropriate amounts and types of food and they don't exercise enough. To put it simply many children are stacking on the weight because calorie intake is higher than calories burned.

Children's lifestyles are generally a reflection of those who raise them so parents need to figure heavily in any strategies put forward to improve the health and wellbeing of the next generation.

The trouble is many parents have grown accustomed to outsourcing those hard to deal with issues such as sexuality and drug education to schools and other agencies. Children' health and well-being is an issue that parents should take prime responsibility for. Parents can beat childhood obesity rather than leave it up to schools to fix or politicians to meddle with.

Here is a simple, fool-proof lifestyle plan that parents can adopt to ensure their children grow up healthy and fit rather than overweight and unhealthy:

1. Limit the amount of children's television, computer and electronic games usage to a maximum of two hours a day. Very little physical exertion is needed to watch TV or use other electronic equipment so for the sake of fitness their use of these needs to be limited. Send children outside, suggest they walk or ride to a friend's house or even suggest they have a friend or four over to play. One third of Australian children would prefer to play computer games than play outside so parents may have to be assertive and, at times, over-zealous but so be it.

2. Children walk or ride a bike to school each day. Recent Roy Morgan research revealed that 60 per cent of Australian 6 - 13 year olds would like to walk to school but only 30 per cent actually do. Most children would get their required minimum two hours of exercise a week by walking or riding their bikes to school. This may mean that parents may have to walk to school with younger children or ensure they are adequately supervised. Bike riding is not safe for every child but more bike tracks in the vicinity of schools would be a great start.

3. Keep unhealthy food out of the trolley and include more fruit. This may be stating the bleeding obvious but as keepers of the family purse parents have the main stake in what food goes in and what stays out of the shopping trolley. It seems that parents are on the right track as more Australian children eat fruit after school than sweet biscuits but even so the number of fruit eaters can do with a boost. Only 43 per cent of Australian children eat fruit after school so more fruit could be a good place to start.

4. Serve healthy meals at the table on a regular basis. The humble ritual that sees adults and children who are related to each other breaking bread together on a daily or at least regular basis has a lot going for it. Far from being a refuelling stop mealtime is an opportunity for everyone to catch up and to share good healthy, well-prepared food. True, busyness of life get in the way of this healthy ritual but it is about getting our priorities right.

5. Parents play with their children or join them in a physical activity. The family that plays together stays thin together could well be the motto of our times. It should be easy for adults to sell their children on the virtues of playing physical games outside as play comes before work in most children's dictionaries. Fathers tend to be the kings of play but work and other lifestyle factors can get in the way.

6. Encourage children to be involved in at least one organised physical activity each week. Some parents may need to be insistent but 88 per cent of Australian children say they enjoy sport so getting children motivated for physical activity shouldn't be hard. There is no shortage of options for children these days as there are activities and sports that cater of a diverse range of interests, abilities and body types.

7. Parents model a healthy lifestyle. Do as I do not as I say is the idea here. It is little use parents telling their kids to go out and play as they tuck into their second wine or they slump into the couch. Modelling is the most important tool in the armoury if we want children to develop sustained healthy eating and exercise habits. For the record, a healthy lifestyle is one where people talk to each other (ideal for emotional well-being), one where food and alcohol intake occurs in moderation and physical activity is a natural part of the day.

This plan has a great deal going for it. It is cost-free, easy to use and places the responsibility where it lay - with parents. It also has the added bonus of promoting healthy relationships as if they follow this plan parents and kids should spend more time together which can't be a bad thing.

For further ideas to help you raise happy children and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au . While you are there subscribe to Happy Kids newsletter and receive a free report - Seven ways to beat sibling rivalry.

Childhood Obesity

Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die in this country of too much food than of too little. It's an appalling notion -- but an accurate one. As of 1999 more than 60 percent of American adults were overweight or obese -- and obesity among children was increasing faster than among adults. In 2000, 22 percent of U.S. preschoolers were overweight and 10 percent clinically obese.

Nevertheless, there are many who consider obesity an individual responsibility. Writing in the Los Angeles Times in December 2001, Brian Doherty ridiculed former surgeon general David Satcher's "fat war." He called on taxpayer-funded agencies to think twice about spending Americans' money to lecture us on what he considers a matter of private health. He believes obesity is a condition "caused by freely chosen behavior" and maintains people can simply cure themselves of obesity by eating less and exercising more.

Fair enough. Everyone's entitled to an opinion. But you have to wonder if Mr. Doherty has done any research on this issue -- or if he's simply speaking as someone who personally has a handle on his own "love handles." If it's the latter, he's to be congratulated for his self-discipline -- but rebuked for not digging a little deeper as a journalist. After all, if the majority of people in this country have a weight problem, we need to look into the reasons why. If there are now nearly twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980 -- and it previously took 30 years for the number of overweight American children to double -- we have to admit that something, somewhere, is very wrong.

Certainly, we all wish the problem would just disappear -- that it wouldn't be our problem at all. Who at one time or another hasn't wished for a simple solution to the predicaments that plague us? In this case, if everyone just took personal responsibility for her or his own weight gain, we wouldn't have to spend $100 billion dealing with obesity. And there's no doubt that personal responsibility is a good thing. But David Satcher tells us this is "the most overweight, obese generation of children in our history." Exactly whose responsibility is that? Let's think about it.

Without even taking into consideration the $100,000 paid to schools by soft drink companies to fill our children's bodies with empty calories, there's still the issue of recess and physical education disappearing from the schools. Who's making the decisions to eliminate all physical activity from the school day (where children spend most of their waking hours) despite mounting evidence that children need to move -- for the health of both their bodies and their minds? Not the children. Given a choice, they'd happily choose to mix some movement into the day.

There's also the matter of loading children's days with activities that preclude "exercising more." Given a choice -- and the opportunity -- children might well opt to spend more of their time running, jumping, and breathing hard. But they're not being allowed to "choose freely." Rather, the adults are choosing for them -- the very adults who are supposed to know what's best for them and who have been entrusted with their care and protection.

Are the children responsible for the fact that 32 percent of two- to seven-year-olds -- and 65 percent of eight- to eighteen-year-olds -- have TVs in their bedrooms? Is it their fault they're not born with self-limiting mechanisms -- and that too often parents have forgotten how to say no? If young children were able to set their own limits with regard to television viewing and computer and video use, they'd need parents only to provide food, clothing, and shelter.

The problem is, once a child is obese because of these adult-made decisions, the odds are pretty much stacked against him. Not only are behavior patterns, like eating and physical activity habits, established in childhood (educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom contended that 90 percent of an individual's habits and traits are set by age twelve), but long-term studies have also shown that excess body fat tends to persist throughout childhood and into adulthood.

And it's no wonder. Not only will "supersized" servings confront her at every turn, but also physical activity will become an even smaller part of the overweight child's life as she gets older. This is true of children in general but is even more probable for the overweight child.

Many of us have nightmarish recollections of trying to climb the rope, or being forced to run laps until overcome with nausea, during "gym class." Surely any kind of physical activity would feel equally nightmarish to an overweight child. Even if they're inclined to move, overweight children are often physically incompetent. According to an article at the website of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), during one study approximately 120 children ages three to ten were observed traversing an overhead ladder. The only children unable to cross the ladder successfully were obese. In another study it was determined that even children's walking patterns were affected by overweight, with obese children walking slower, asymmetrically, flat-footed, and with toes turned out. Over time these poor walking habits can result in structural deformities and damage to body tissue. And, of course, if even walking is a challenge, anything beyond that could be perceived as overwhelming.

Is it any surprise, then, that 40 percent of obese children and 70 percent of obese adolescents become obese adults? Indeed, by the time obese children are six years old, their chances of becoming obese adults are over 50 percent. It's a vicious-circle kind of problem. Lack of physical activity is a primary cause of excessive fat accumulation in children. Then, once overweight, children have a tendency to become even less physically active -- a tendency that only increases in adolescence.

Sure, Richard Simmons started out as a "fat kid" and managed to overcome the odds, but he's devoted his entire life to it! Not many individuals are likely to hand over the better part of their lives to rid themselves of excessive fat accumulation acquired before they were even old enough to understand the problem.

But something must be done to ensure physical activity is a part of every child's life. Said Dr. Samuel Abate, at a childhood obesity conference sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Health: "The consequences of denying the body exercise are just as severe as depriving it of food, water, or oxygen; it just takes longer to see the consequences."

Childhood Obesity

Economist John Kenneth Galbraith has said that more people die in this country of too much food than of too little. It's an appalling notion -- but an accurate one. As of 1999 more than 60 percent of American adults were overweight or obese -- and obesity among children was increasing faster than among adults. In 2000, 22 percent of U.S. preschoolers were overweight and 10 percent clinically obese.

Nevertheless, there are many who consider obesity an individual responsibility. Writing in the Los Angeles Times in December 2001, Brian Doherty ridiculed former surgeon general David Satcher's "fat war." He called on taxpayer-funded agencies to think twice about spending Americans' money to lecture us on what he considers a matter of private health. He believes obesity is a condition "caused by freely chosen behavior" and maintains people can simply cure themselves of obesity by eating less and exercising more.

Fair enough. Everyone's entitled to an opinion. But you have to wonder if Mr. Doherty has done any research on this issue -- or if he's simply speaking as someone who personally has a handle on his own "love handles." If it's the latter, he's to be congratulated for his self-discipline -- but rebuked for not digging a little deeper as a journalist. After all, if the majority of people in this country have a weight problem, we need to look into the reasons why. If there are now nearly twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980 -- and it previously took 30 years for the number of overweight American children to double -- we have to admit that something, somewhere, is very wrong.

Certainly, we all wish the problem would just disappear -- that it wouldn't be our problem at all. Who at one time or another hasn't wished for a simple solution to the predicaments that plague us? In this case, if everyone just took personal responsibility for her or his own weight gain, we wouldn't have to spend $100 billion dealing with obesity. And there's no doubt that personal responsibility is a good thing. But David Satcher tells us this is "the most overweight, obese generation of children in our history." Exactly whose responsibility is that? Let's think about it.

Without even taking into consideration the $100,000 paid to schools by soft drink companies to fill our children's bodies with empty calories, there's still the issue of recess and physical education disappearing from the schools. Who's making the decisions to eliminate all physical activity from the school day (where children spend most of their waking hours) despite mounting evidence that children need to move -- for the health of both their bodies and their minds? Not the children. Given a choice, they'd happily choose to mix some movement into the day.

There's also the matter of loading children's days with activities that preclude "exercising more." Given a choice -- and the opportunity -- children might well opt to spend more of their time running, jumping, and breathing hard. But they're not being allowed to "choose freely." Rather, the adults are choosing for them -- the very adults who are supposed to know what's best for them and who have been entrusted with their care and protection.

Are the children responsible for the fact that 32 percent of two- to seven-year-olds -- and 65 percent of eight- to eighteen-year-olds -- have TVs in their bedrooms? Is it their fault they're not born with self-limiting mechanisms -- and that too often parents have forgotten how to say no? If young children were able to set their own limits with regard to television viewing and computer and video use, they'd need parents only to provide food, clothing, and shelter.

The problem is, once a child is obese because of these adult-made decisions, the odds are pretty much stacked against him. Not only are behavior patterns, like eating and physical activity habits, established in childhood (educational psychologist Benjamin Bloom contended that 90 percent of an individual's habits and traits are set by age twelve), but long-term studies have also shown that excess body fat tends to persist throughout childhood and into adulthood.

And it's no wonder. Not only will "supersized" servings confront her at every turn, but also physical activity will become an even smaller part of the overweight child's life as she gets older. This is true of children in general but is even more probable for the overweight child.

Many of us have nightmarish recollections of trying to climb the rope, or being forced to run laps until overcome with nausea, during "gym class." Surely any kind of physical activity would feel equally nightmarish to an overweight child. Even if they're inclined to move, overweight children are often physically incompetent. According to an article at the website of the International Play Equipment Manufacturers Association (IPEMA), during one study approximately 120 children ages three to ten were observed traversing an overhead ladder. The only children unable to cross the ladder successfully were obese. In another study it was determined that even children's walking patterns were affected by overweight, with obese children walking slower, asymmetrically, flat-footed, and with toes turned out. Over time these poor walking habits can result in structural deformities and damage to body tissue. And, of course, if even walking is a challenge, anything beyond that could be perceived as overwhelming.

Is it any surprise, then, that 40 percent of obese children and 70 percent of obese adolescents become obese adults? Indeed, by the time obese children are six years old, their chances of becoming obese adults are over 50 percent. It's a vicious-circle kind of problem. Lack of physical activity is a primary cause of excessive fat accumulation in children. Then, once overweight, children have a tendency to become even less physically active -- a tendency that only increases in adolescence.

Sure, Richard Simmons started out as a "fat kid" and managed to overcome the odds, but he's devoted his entire life to it! Not many individuals are likely to hand over the better part of their lives to rid themselves of excessive fat accumulation acquired before they were even old enough to understand the problem.

But something must be done to ensure physical activity is a part of every child's life. Said Dr. Samuel Abate, at a childhood obesity conference sponsored by the North Dakota Department of Health: "The consequences of denying the body exercise are just as severe as depriving it of food, water, or oxygen; it just takes longer to see the consequences."

7 Part Plan To Beating Childhood Obesity

Everyone from politicians to parents is talking about fighting the war against childhood flab. It is odd that in a relatively wealthy countries such as the US and Australia improving children's health, weight and fitness should be a problem but it appears to be a sticking point with many.

Childhood obesity in a developed country like Australia and the United States is essentially a lifestyle issue. Children are overweight because they eat inappropriate amounts and types of food and they don't exercise enough. To put it simply many children are stacking on the weight because calorie intake is higher than calories burned.

Children's lifestyles are generally a reflection of those who raise them so parents need to figure heavily in any strategies put forward to improve the health and wellbeing of the next generation.

The trouble is many parents have grown accustomed to outsourcing those hard to deal with issues such as sexuality and drug education to schools and other agencies. Children' health and well-being is an issue that parents should take prime responsibility for. Parents can beat childhood obesity rather than leave it up to schools to fix or politicians to meddle with.

Here is a simple, fool-proof lifestyle plan that parents can adopt to ensure their children grow up healthy and fit rather than overweight and unhealthy:

1. Limit the amount of children's television, computer and electronic games usage to a maximum of two hours a day. Very little physical exertion is needed to watch TV or use other electronic equipment so for the sake of fitness their use of these needs to be limited. Send children outside, suggest they walk or ride to a friend's house or even suggest they have a friend or four over to play. One third of Australian children would prefer to play computer games than play outside so parents may have to be assertive and, at times, over-zealous but so be it.

2. Children walk or ride a bike to school each day. Recent Roy Morgan research revealed that 60 per cent of Australian 6 - 13 year olds would like to walk to school but only 30 per cent actually do. Most children would get their required minimum two hours of exercise a week by walking or riding their bikes to school. This may mean that parents may have to walk to school with younger children or ensure they are adequately supervised. Bike riding is not safe for every child but more bike tracks in the vicinity of schools would be a great start.

3. Keep unhealthy food out of the trolley and include more fruit. This may be stating the bleeding obvious but as keepers of the family purse parents have the main stake in what food goes in and what stays out of the shopping trolley. It seems that parents are on the right track as more Australian children eat fruit after school than sweet biscuits but even so the number of fruit eaters can do with a boost. Only 43 per cent of Australian children eat fruit after school so more fruit could be a good place to start.

4. Serve healthy meals at the table on a regular basis. The humble ritual that sees adults and children who are related to each other breaking bread together on a daily or at least regular basis has a lot going for it. Far from being a refuelling stop mealtime is an opportunity for everyone to catch up and to share good healthy, well-prepared food. True, busyness of life get in the way of this healthy ritual but it is about getting our priorities right.

5. Parents play with their children or join them in a physical activity. The family that plays together stays thin together could well be the motto of our times. It should be easy for adults to sell their children on the virtues of playing physical games outside as play comes before work in most children's dictionaries. Fathers tend to be the kings of play but work and other lifestyle factors can get in the way.

6. Encourage children to be involved in at least one organised physical activity each week. Some parents may need to be insistent but 88 per cent of Australian children say they enjoy sport so getting children motivated for physical activity shouldn't be hard. There is no shortage of options for children these days as there are activities and sports that cater of a diverse range of interests, abilities and body types.

7. Parents model a healthy lifestyle. Do as I do not as I say is the idea here. It is little use parents telling their kids to go out and play as they tuck into their second wine or they slump into the couch. Modelling is the most important tool in the armoury if we want children to develop sustained healthy eating and exercise habits. For the record, a healthy lifestyle is one where people talk to each other (ideal for emotional well-being), one where food and alcohol intake occurs in moderation and physical activity is a natural part of the day.

This plan has a great deal going for it. It is cost-free, easy to use and places the responsibility where it lay - with parents. It also has the added bonus of promoting healthy relationships as if they follow this plan parents and kids should spend more time together which can't be a bad thing.

For further ideas to help you raise happy children and resilient teenagers visit http://www.parentingideas.com.au . While you are there subscribe to Happy Kids newsletter and receive a free report - Seven ways to beat sibling rivalry.

Purpose Is About Pursuit of Passion

If anything is to enliven joy within us it is passion.

We read the infused passion within the apostle Paul as he proclaims the gospel of God:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel; it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith... " ~Romans 1:16 (NRSV)

We can imagine not only infused passion, but infused joy also, because of the fullness of commitment the apostle makes in running headlong toward his goal - the salvation, in Jesus Christ's name, of all who are willing in his path.

"Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own." ~Philippians 3:12 (NRSV)

The beauty in the work of passion is there isn't any end to it - neither passion nor work to be done in furthering the Kingdom. We are blessed to join this work. We are blessed to have a role. The outworking of our passion is for others to have life, and life abundant, in the name of Jesus. This is not just an exercise in evangelism; it is very much an exercise of spiritual growth to the increasing of discernment toward the growing of wisdom - true godly wisdom, for there is no other kind.

If passion is what we live for, we are not ashamed of the gospel.

We are called to live by faith - those who are right in God's sight live by faith (Romans 1:17) - and this is manifest by passion, which is indicated by energy and joy.

BEING PASSIONATE AND COMPASSIONATE

God wants us connected to our passions. He wants us to be passionate and compassionate. The Lord wants us to be passionate for our work within the Kingdom. Lord wants us to be compassionate for the people within the Kingdom.

When we work toward achieving both of these - the knowledge and outworking of our passions and engaging compassionately - God blesses us with the confirmation of our purpose.

Our purpose is twofold within the Kingdom: 1) passion for our work, and 2) compassion for people. Often times both of these are merged and it's even better when they are. When we understand this twofold purpose and it becomes real in our lives, our lives find a new gear, and the characterisation is delight.

***

Passion produces joy, and it is God's will for all our lives that we experience the joys of passion. In a Kingdom sense, passion is important regarding purpose in two ways: 1) to have passion in our work, and 2) to be compassionate with people. When we have these two we have the keys to a life of joy.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness   

A Simple Cure For The Church Hospitality Blues

The "church hospitality blues" is a common refrain in those thousands of churches that don't know why they are withering. Fortunately, it's not hard to permanently alter the trajectory of the church hospitality ministry. An important first step is to recognize and utilize the power of narrative.

If you do that your church will become the warmest, most hospitable group a church visitor will ever meet.

Narrative is the internal story that determines how we see the world, the way we interpret life's experiences and tells us how we fit into life's grand structure. Each of us has our own, unique narrative that begins with the signals the world sends our way. These signals are reinforced by parents, our family and our friends. My personal narrative tells me who I am, what I'm good at, how others see me and why I am valuable (or not).

Churches, like most corporate entities, also have a narrative. It's shaped by experiences good and bad, by successes and failures, by the private narratives of thought leaders and by the collective history accumulated over many decades.

The beauty of narratives is that they are fairly easy to rewrite. When they are the results can be nothing short of miraculous. Dr. Timothy Wilson's book, Redirect: The Surprising New Science of Psychological Change, provides sociological research that demonstrates the power of rewritten narratives.

Similar to some applications of Cognitive Behavioral therapy, rewriting our narratives redirects our thoughts. By reframing our narratives with a fresh perspective we see things differently. Once discouraged people start to feel optimism which produces changes in behavior.

The biblical precedent for this is found in Proverbs 23:7, "As a he thinks within himself, so is he."

If your church struggles to retain visitors there's probably something wrong with the hospitality ministry. In my experience as an intentional interim pastor these churches struggle in large part because the corporate narrative is negative. The place to start is by leading the hospitality team through an exercise that rewrites the narrative.

Start with a 90 minute session for the whole hospitality team, including fresh recruits. Lead them in brainstorming answers to this question: "What comes to mind once you give thought to our church's hospitality ministry? A recorder should write the words and phrases that pop up on a whiteboard or a large easel.

When the energy begins to wane over this part of the meeting, choose one or two attention grabbing statements and have the group expand on them to add more detail.

At some point you'll sense that the brainstorm has run out of steam. At that point rotate and pick up one of the more troubling statements (e.g. "we have a hard time recruiting volunteer greeters") and then brainstorm different ways to rewrite that narrative (e.g., "people gladly volunteer when the understand how important it is").

Then facilitate a group discussion that explores different ways that this rewritten narrative might have beneficial impact on the hospitality team and the church at large.

Finally, divide the group into pairs to discuss a new narrative: "Our hospitality ministry delivers outstanding hospitality to church visitors." Give them thirty minutes to answer four important questions around this exciting story:

How will my service to the church be different in the future? What will church visitors experience from now on? What beneficial impact will this new narrative have on the whole church?

Narratives are powerful. They determine the tunes we sing and hum to ourselves. Isn't it time your church stopped singing the "church hospitality blues"?

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness   

Bible Study on Revelation 12: The Final Conflict Between Dragon and the Woman

The end-time battle between the dragon and the woman in Revelation 12 is the outworking of a wider controversy between Christ and Satan. This controversy actually started in heaven when Satan decided to rebel against the divine government. Due to disobedience and insubordination, Satan was cast out along with his angels who sympathized with him in rebellion. Thus the scene of the controversy was transferred from the heavenly court to the battle field of planet earth.

In your Bible study you will find that most of the story in Revelation 12 is confined to the great controversy as it transpired on earth from a particular point in time. After mention was made of the war in heaven between Michael and the dragon, the narrative transitioned to a conflict between the dragon and the woman. This is a perennial war that is to reach its climax in the last days.

At this point we need to be clear on the Bible's explanation of the symbols employed here. From the interpretations given, the dragon is a symbol of Satan, and the woman is a symbol of the church (Jer. 6:3). It was said that the woman was pregnant and in pain to deliver her child. According the story, she delivered a man child who is to rule all nation with a rod of iron. It is also stated that this man child was caught up to God and his throne.

From the scenario described here, this church of God (the woman) was to deliver a special child. This is clearly referring to none other than Jesus. Speaking of the church giving birth to this child, the prophet Isaiah made the following declaration:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa. 9:6

Furthermore, it is said that she was in pain to deliver this child. The church was in pain indeed when Herod, in his attempt to kill baby Jesus, ordered all boy babies from 2 years old and under to be slaughtered. This incident had brought a lot of pain upon the church on account of the loss of their male children. In reference to this incidence, Matthew referred to a statement from the prophet Jeremiah saying,

"In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel, weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not." Matt. 2:18 (See also Jeremiah 31:15).

As it turned out, the Devil was not successful in his attempt to kill the man child, and so the child grew up and was able to accomplish the mission of bringing redemption to the fallen sons and daughters of Adam. It is to this achievement that the Lord was pointing when He made the following decree to the serpent in the book of Genesis:

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." Gen. 3:15

Therefore, by His death on the cross, Christ has crushed the head of the serpent. It was to prevent this decisive blow to his kingdom that the serpent (Satan) made a desperate effort to get rid of the seed that was prophesied to hand him this defeat.

When the serpent saw that he has failed in his bid to prevent Jesus from accomplishing His mission, he directed his venom against the woman. With the man child now caught up to God onto His throne, the only bastion of opposition that remains is the woman. It was said that the dragon persecuted the woman for 1260 days. This is a prediction that the church will be persecuted for a protracted period.

While the church has always been facing enmity from society in general, there was a time when this enmity began to receive support from the state in the form of inquisitions and crusades against heretics. It was during the reign of the medieval papacy that hostilities against the people of God accelerated to fever pitch. Simply because of their disagreement with the imperial church, the true Christians were beheaded, tortured at the stake, thrown to lions, and thrust into dungeons and left their to die of starvation.

Many theologians believe this 1260 days to be symbolic of 1260 years based on the day-for-a-year principle established in Ezekiel 4:6 and Numbers 14:34. It is further held that this period began in 538AD and terminated in 1798AD. What was started against the church under the pagan Roman Empire had continued under pseudo-Christian Rome (the Papacy). Through the polished instrumentality of the church of Rome Satan found a most efficient agent to forward his campaign against the saints of God.

However, in spite of the level of enmity manifested toward the church the Devil did not succeed in his attempt to extinguish the light of the gospel message. It was said that the dragon cast out of his mouth water after the woman, but the earth helped the woman and swallowed up the flood. Satan intends to use the flood to carry the woman away. Flood, as used in an allegorical sense in the scriptures, refers to mass attack (Isa. 59:19).

The church came under persecution from a multitude of adherents to the Church of Rome. They have their businesses boycotted and their properties proscribed; they were driven from their homes and were forced to retreat to the hills and the caves for refuge. It appears that divine intervention came into play to protect and preserve the church of God. The earth swallowing up the flood seems to be describing a scenario where the earth will actually open up and destroy the enemies of the church as in the case of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram (Num. 26:10; Deut. 11:6).

The Devil was wroth because he knows that the preservation of the church means that she will be producing more seeds like that of the original seed through the born again experience. Therefore, he had no choice but to abandon his pursuit of the woman and prepare for the final battle with the remnant of the seed of the woman. The preparation for the final conflict between the commandment-keeping church of God and the dragon is well in advance. This final showdown will get underway during the mark-of-the-beast crisis when the beast makes war with the saints.

In your study of Revelation 12 you will see that it is the beginning of a line of prophecy that continues into chapter 13. Thus, we can see a clear transition from a war in heaven to a war on earth; from a conflict between the dragon and the woman to an end-time warfare between the beast and the remnant saints who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus (Rev. 12:17).

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness   

Cut and Paste Theology

"The inspired Word of God." I have been pondering quite a bit lately how to start this one off. The bible is a point of contention in regards to believing in the one true God that is supposedly described within it. What is the point of the bible, anyway? Other than being the source of knowledge upon which Christianity claims to be based, why does it exist? As I finish reading the book The Blue Parakeet by Scot McKnight, I realize more and more how I've let man dictate my own relationship with God (in various forms). I don't proclaim this to be a book review of any sorts, nor is it a comprehensive outline of what the book teaches, but rather I must point out that it has changed my perspective in my own study of the truthfulness of the bible and how I read it.

It appears the word "bible" comes from as early as the 14th century. The word itself refers to a collection of books, the word used for book being biblion in Greek, which referred to the papyrus that the words were actually written upon. It is funny how the meaning of "bible" has transcended the ages and is now used to mean a source book of all knowledge and truth, even though many question the bible's truth, ironically. We usually refer to a book being a "bible" if it is used as or considered to be the end all document to answer all questions and that which to live by in any given topic. Unfortunately, our society has distorted what the bible was intended to be: a glimpse into the relationship between God and His creation.

It really frustrates me when I take a step back and look at how our current society handles the bible. Maybe it's because I can see how easily I fall into it as well. I don't mean this in a "it's a holy book and we should respect and honor it" way, rather that we don't handle it the way we handle most other books that we use for knowledge, information, and lifestyle principles. Our society has become one of laziness and witty one-liners. We even have a social media platform that limits how much you can say at once. It amazes me how we contend to sum up a historical book that contains thousands of pages and covers even more years of history into less than a sentence and think it is a justifiable and accurate portrayal of its principles. I see how people reference, quote, and make inference from the bible (myself included, admittedly) in a way that is completely contrary to the exact point they are trying to make. The main problem is that it isn't contrary to how we as a people look at and utilize facts in the 21st century. The news twists pieces of stories all the time to get better exposure and make more money. Politicians pull a sentence from an opponent's 25-minute speech and throw it back out of context, fueled with the emotions of their constituents. Maybe this shouldn't upset me, but why doesn't it upset you?

Too often we take shortcuts and (specifically in this case) all we do is shortcut our relationship with others and with God; leaving ourselves isolated, frustrated, and angry at the world because we are disappointed. I've heard people say, "The Old Testament is an ancient book that doesn't apply anymore." I'd like to see you pick up a book you never read before and tear out the first 2/3 of it and just start reading; let me know how you understand the ending. To relate to the aforementioned one-liners, how many times do you pick up a book, flip to a page, read one or two sentences and assume that is the main theme of the book? Even worse, take those sentences and judge others by them who proclaim to better understand the book since they have devoted their life to it. We've all heard the phrase, "don't judge a book by its cover," maybe we should evolve that into, "don't judge a book until you comprehend it entirely."

I think it is time for an example. I'm going to give you two statements. I assume that the vast majority of readers will at least on a grammatical and vocabulary level understand the statements:

The grass is green. The grass is brown.

Experience and Perspective

I imagine that as you read those two sentences, you had at least one mental image for both, it could very well have been the same image, depending on your past experiences. It's safe to say you have at least one memory of green grass and brown grass. Are my mental image and your mental image the same? It is impossible for us to have the exact same image. We might have similar mental recollections, if we are recalling images from the same time and place. Maybe you and I were somewhere with lush green grass. Maybe we were walking around during a season of drought and we recall the same brown grass. There are about 7 of us where I am living now who see the same exact brown grass every day; yet our memories of it are and will be forever different. We all not only have experienced green and brown grass, but the picture is completely unique in our own minds. Let's imagine that I want to "pull" you into my perspective. I want to try to recreate that image in your own mind so you can experience as closely as possible what I experienced. How would I do that? I'd probably start explaining to you the setting. You might ask me certain questions, "Where were you? Who were you with? What was the time of day? What did you hear? What did you smell?" Not only am I trying to give you the picture in my mind, but you also want to know what it is and you are making an effort to understand and see it yourself. You try to experience the same thing so you can 100% understand what I experienced. The bible is the picture in the minds of men throughout the ages who experienced God. Yet, why don't we ask who the speaker is or to whom they are speaking? Why are they speaking at all? Why don't we ask the pertinent questions to try to understand the experience of the speaker (in this case, the writer) so that we can understand what they experienced and why?

Why is context so important?

I have heard some repeat frustration about the common claim of the importance of context when reading the bible. If you aren't color blind, my two statements of grass not only gave you a picture, but recalled the context of the picture. Was the green grass amidst a summer season? Was it a period of plentiful rain? Was it a hydroponic lab that grew grass for decoration? Maybe it was a Jamba Juice in California with rows of lemongrass used to mix in with healthy drinks. Maybe it was brown grass spray painted green. What made the grass green anyway? Why was it brown? What shade of brown was it? Whatever the context was of your mental image, it wasn't grass floating around in an empty vacuum, because we never experience things without context. All of these "unspoken truths" and elements create the context of the grass. Some might very well accept that the grass is green and they don't really care to know more. Others might be unhappy the grass is brown and decide to hate grass for the rest of their lives. Maybe they hate the person responsible for the grass, who they assume is the person they saw standing on it. These are all assumptions that feed into the misinterpretation of the two simple statements: The grass is green. The grass is brown.

Contradictions

Biblical contradictions intrigue me. I started my own study on biblical contradictions to see if they truly were contradictions or misinterpreted statements that were cut and pasted together. If we look at these two statements side by side, we see an obvious contradiction. The grass is green. The grass is brown. With this information isolated from all other knowledge and experience, we only have a few conclusions we can make. 1) the author is a contradicting liar 2) the grass is somehow both green and brown. 3) we are missing some information (feel free to comment any other options you can conclude). The lazy social media part of society picks option 1, as they rely on the quick and easy choice and make their judgment from there. The hopeful yet equally lazy part of society picks number 2 and hopes for the best, getting defensive whenever someone tells them they are wrong. The minute few that are in search of the honest and real truth use option 3 as a catalyst to learn more.

With what we have here (from an informational standpoint) we cannot honestly say we have enough information to make a truthful conclusion about the statements. Maybe the author is a contradicting liar. Maybe the grass is both green and brown at the same time. Maybe all the conclusions are true with an explanation we haven't even considered. However, we won't know that until we research the context of these two juxtaposed sentences. Maybe in between them there is a viable explanation as to why the green grass turned brown. Maybe the grass was brown first and then turned green and the translator mixed the words to fit his or her agenda. Maybe we aren't even talking about the same grass! We cannot make an educated and solid conclusion unless we put in the work to know what it is we are reading.

Why ask why?

It is apparent that the author of any work felt it was important to record something. I don't want to limit this to text, it can be recorded as: art, music, architecture, knowledge... the list is endless. Maybe I ask too many questions, but I'm always curious, "why did the author of what I am viewing deem it necessary to record this?" Why do we say what we say on a daily basis? Why do we feel the need to post things on Facebook? Why do we send a text to our lover? There is a reason and motivation behind it. Without trying to understand that reasoning, it is quite possible the recipient or observer will not be able to fully comprehend the message. Why are you trying to tell me about this grass? Why should I care what you have to say and put forth the effort to understand what you are saying? Why should I even consider your explanation of it? I often wondered this in high school literature class. As we picked apart poems and prose, I wondered if the author intended for their work to be analyzed this way in search for some deeper truth or did they just have these words on their mind and decide to record them for fear of losing them?

Who's Who of Whoville?

Who recorded what we are reading? If we learned that the two statements of grass were quoted by George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, we would probably see it from a different perspective than if it was said by Charles Manson or Osama bin Laden. Furthermore, it would depend upon who the reader is: a patriot American or radical Taliban fighter. Why is that? It is because by knowing the author, we learn more about what they authored. In painted art, specifically that which is revered as the finest in the world, art connoisseurs don't just study the art, but also the artist. This gives insight into the heavy strokes of Van Gogh or the pointillism of Georges Seurat. It's interesting that most of the famous artists we studied in school(that I remember, anyway) weren't really considered worth knowing until they were dead! In scientific research, students are taught not only to analyze the experiments that provide the results but to also examine the authenticity and reliability of those performing the experiment. Why then do we neglect the authors of the bible?

What the heck are they talking about?

I'll never forget the stunt pulled by an atheist organization earlier this year that quoted a verse from Colossians about slavery alongside a depiction of an American slave and put it on a billboard. Despite the backlash from the African American community, I wonder if it caused anyone to look it up and see what the author of the original text was actually talking about. I hope that at least self-proclaimed Christians who weren't familiar with the verse decided to look it up and see what was going on in Paul's letter to the church as Colossae.

When someone is quoting the bible, I have found it wise to first look it up myself to see if they have twisted it into something else for their own agenda. Colossians 3:22 in its entirety actually reads, "22 Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord." All it takes is "zooming out" a little to understand a little more what is actually being said here (regardless if you agree with it or not). The billboard doesn't even represent the complete sentence! If we "zoom out" a little more, we learn why the author is making this statement. The following verses reinforce Paul's statement here about slavery and the intended mindset of one submitted to the authority of God. "23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality." Whether or not you agree with what is being taught here isn't the point. The point is the misquoted, misinterpreted, and misused partial sentence pulled out of an entire 4-chapter letter!

Another point I would like to make is what the passage doesn't say. Does Paul say slavery is good? Does he even advocate slavery? Does he say God likes or promotes slavery? No, he simply addresses slaves in their current situation and gives them hope in their time of desperation and oppression. Additionally, if we look again at verse 25, Paul is actually talking about the wrongdoings of the slave masters! This is the God Paul is writing about: a God of justice for the oppressed and hope for the future despite their current circumstances.

In reference to our "grass statements," what if they are read by a society that has never seen brown grass? What if the society of the 2300s refers to "brown grass" as a derogatory term for a certain ethnic group? Clearly I was being racist when I said the grass is brown today (note sarcasm). Someone might also infer that I was claiming brown grass to be good (or bad, for that matter). Do you see how easy it is to twist something out of its meaning when you don't truly seek out the fullness of the truth? If we don't, we are simply tossing around half-truths that do no real good for anyone.

Study and learn or shut up

Yes, this final subtitle is stern and abrasive, but it needs to be. I hope it offends you. I hope it breaks you from the societal bondage we find ourselves in of laziness, being easily manipulated, and acceptance of half-truths. It applies to all sides of the argument: Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Atheist, Agnostic, Jew, Gentile, Heathen, etc. It really shouldn't even be an argument, because our unique experience is never right or wrong; it's merely our own. The bible is an in depth collection of history, stories, principles, and life. It spans the entirety of time (according to it's content). It is a story of the relationship between God and man (whether or not you choose to believe in God at all). Men have spent lifetimes not only learning the message behind it, but also applying it to everyday life. I'm sure you wouldn't want to be judged on a misquoted and misunderstood statement or two you made throughout your life so don't do it to others either, regardless of the message you are trying to promote. Interestingly, the bible isn't the whole story; it is a snapshot. In discovering the truths of the bible, many question why books and letters were "left out". As we commit to studying the bible in conjunction with those left out, we can understand better why certain texts were included while others were not.

I'd like to add one caveat to what I have just written. Just as I detailed what Paul did not say in Colossians, I feel it necessary to point out what I did not say here. I did not talk about belief, faith, Jesus as God, or anything of the sort. That is all about your own relationship with God or lack thereof. I'm simply pointing out the self-made blindness of our own society, which is based on laziness, selfish pride, and ignorance (I'm just as guilty as anyone else) as it applies to our slingshot "cut and paste theology".

Are you really looking for truth? Do you really care what it says and how it applies to your life and the lives of others? Quit taking the shortcuts, because it doesn't benefit anybody. Don't take anybody's word for it or even mine, do the work yourself if you want to know what it says and means.

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness   

You Are Unique

You are unique. And you are special. In a world of over seven billion people it might be difficult to believe that. But it's true. God created you as an individual. You may have been unplanned, but you are not an accident. You may even have had an illegitimate birth, but there is nothing random about you.

No human being is a chance happening. Sometimes we can look at human life as being no more than a biological outcome; but that's not what the Bible teaches. Every person has a human spirit which God alone can impart. For example, in Zechariah 12:1 we read, "Thus says the LORD, who stretches out the heavens, lays the foundation of the earth, and forms the spirit of man within him... " And in Ecclesiastes 12:7, Solomon says, "The dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." Without God's involvement you would have no being. You owe your existence to "the Father of spirits" (Heb.12:9).

Furthermore, you were not mass produced. Just as no two snowflakes, or blades of grass, are alike, so there are no two identical human beings. God doesn't do carbon copies.

Manifold Grace

As it is in creation, so it is in the new creation. We each possess our own individual new creation identity. Whilst all believers are in Christ, yet we have a distinctiveness that underlines our individuality.

When speaking about our particular unique function in the body of Christ, Peter says that the grace of God is upon each one of us in a different way. He puts it this way, "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" (1 Pet.4:10).

That word 'manifold' means many-sided, or multi-faceted. The Church is like a diamond in God's hand. And each one of us is like shaped facets of that gem which reflects the kaleidoscope fullness of Christ in so many different ways. The Church will sparkle and gleam in all its stunning brilliance and diversity as, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we allow our uniqueness to be manifested.

There is nothing which stifles the variegated character of the grace of God like the pressure of uniformity. We have not been mass produced; churned out like sausages on a production line. Each of us is individually handcrafted by God. Someone once said, "When God created John Wesley, He destroyed the mold!"

Cults and control freaks insist on sameness. They don't understand that we can be diverse without being divisive. Therefore, they kill individuality and creativity. But where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty to be the true expression of who God has made us to be. Dear friend, don't be an echo of someone else; be a voice. Don't be a clone; be an original. Don't be fooled into believing that 'one size fits all'. Be the unique, special facet to God's gem that you are.

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness   

Finding and Building Upon Our Sense-Of-Self

Sense-of-self may be something many people take for granted, but for many more of us, a composed and relatively stable sense-of-self is a meandering journey from within a couple or even a few 'stable' bases - some of which compete. But settling on one vision for our sense-of-self may still be possible.

Finding a satisfying and contented sense-of-self is a prospect only achieved in the moment of now.

A stable sense-of-self relies, at least in some degree, upon settling on one vision and working patiently toward it.

EXPLORING OUR VISION-OF-SELF

Before we can make an assault on bolder claims for ourselves, we have the present opportunity to come into a period of settling; in forms even of our present frustrations. We will hardly be blessed of God if we are continually wavering from pillar to post (see, for instance, James 1:5-8). Learning to be still within our vision-of-self is important. God desires patience of us.

When we explore for our true vision-of-self, a reality never too far away, we are only diligence steps away from commencing that journey. Each step on that track is a step closer on the pilgrimage to fulfilment.

But no one gets anywhere far without a vision-of-self that motivates them to go where God has called them.

THE GREATEST GIFTS OF GOD

The greatest gift from God to our persons, besides the giving of his indwelling Holy Spirit, is the ordered and stable sense-of-self which presents as a peace transcending our understanding.

Aligning to our fundamental sense-of-self is all about, "Being content in, and with, my life, now." We are allowed our visions, plans, hopes, and dreams, but they are always to be secondary to the vital image of sense-of-self - a totally 'now' paradigm.

The greatest gifts of God involve the revelation of God, through the Holy Spirit, in ways that we would feel content within our lives, and able to turn back to God, humbly and happily and habitually, in repentance.

But having a stable sense-of-self is something God can give us, if we ask.

Surely this is a gift beyond some people's wildest dreams. And though a completely stable sense-of-self may be beyond many of us, everyone can enjoy a better sense-of-self when they journey with God.

***

Faith in God helps us develop our sense-of-self. Being in touch with our passions yet also being content with where we are right now are practical realities God blesses us with. What is required of us? To nurture intimacy with God, and these blessings will be added.

© 2012 S. J. Wickham.

Love Is an Act of the Will, Not a Burst of Emotions   Corrie ten Boom - The Roots of the Jerusalem Prayer Team   Unspectacularly Supernatural   Walking After Emptiness